If you’re a lover of charcoal-grilled meat but always manage to burn your dish a tad too much to eat it, then our best BBQ cooking classes in NYC are for you. With Spring upon us, it is time to start taking the BBQ out and clean it before proudly inviting your friends, neighbors and family to share the first BBQ of the year, under a shy sun.
However, when handing out your invitations, you realized that the faces of the invited slightly fell at the thought of eating your badly burn… your tender meat. So, you decided to join a BBQ class to show everyone what an exceptional chef you are. At this point, you realized how large the offer is on the vast expands of the Internet and you have no idea which class to choose from. Fear not, this is where we come in.
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From the type of meat to barbecue to who’s giving the lessons and how much it cost, we browsed hundreds of offered classes in NYC in order to compare which ones were the best. We also checked the commentaries of the classes we thought were interesting to make sure previous students got their money worth out of the experience. Finally, we checked the companies offering the classes, like Home Cooking NewYork and Craftsy. We also tried to keep the ratio cost/quality on the downside and targeted cooking classes that are sold on the websites around $100 (although, beware of taxes, the total amount might be different).
If you never had BBQ in your life or are a BBQ gourmet, there is this special event happening on the 8th of April: the NYC BBQ Cookoff 2017. It will happen on Staten Island and you will be able to watch BBQ teams face off to offer you the best-barbecued meat of all times. It might even give you ideas on how to cook your meat, what sides to serve it with apart from the traditional salad or coleslaw. You might even learn a few tips on barbecuing meat properly. Next year, your friends and family will be the ones to ask you to take out the BBQ at the first ray of spring’s sun. If you want to expand your horizon beyond BBQ classes, don’t forget to check out our article about 25 Free Classes in NYC for Adults.
Apart from BBQ cooking, if you wish to learn how to cook, there are plenty of classes in New York City which allow you to do just that, from beginners to more experienced cooks. You can even do this activity as a couple. There is nothing more romantic than cooking together a nice home meal…And now, let’s see the list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC.
10. All about technique: Grilling
Presented by the Institute of Culinary Education, this class is focused on the technical side of properly grilling your food. Yes, there is a proper technique and no, waiting for your food to turn black is not the right technique. Presented by Chef Sue Gonsalves, this 2-hours long class will take you from proper grilling technique according to the tools you’re using to how to use sauces, spices and dry rub for your food to keep all its flavors. This list could not be done if you don’t know the techniques of grilling, which is why we included this particular class in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC.
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9. Matt Abdoo – Pig Beach
Offered by De Gustibus Cooking School, this class will be led by Chef Matt Abdoo, a BBQ veteran. He likes to experiment with his meat and finds influences in French cuisine, Italian cuisine, American cuisine (Yes, there is such a thing as American Cuisine, apparently)… It will be a demonstration class and the menu should be available soon. As we’re talking about New York, Chef Matt Abdoo is one of the heads behind Pig Beach, a BBQ restaurant where the chefs teamed up to mix traditional BBQ and new ways to BBQ, all for our sole pleasure.
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8. Korean 101
Presented by The Brooklyn Kitchen, this class that ranks 8th in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC will lead you away from traditional BBQ to teach you how to BBQ, Korean-style. It is as delicious as the one we love on this part of the pond and healthier than the counterpart we’re used to. And you’re sure to surprise your guests with that class. This is a 2-hours long, hands-on class, and the menu you will be cooking sounds very inviting. The fact that it is an unusual way of cooking BBQ incited us to put this intriguing class on our list.
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7. Southern BBQ Supper
Presented by Home Cooking New York, this class will help you cook a nice supper with a southern flavor. “Spare ribs with sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, southern-style Coleslaw, Creamy Macaroni and Cheese, Fresh Fruit Hand Pies,” are all the recipes you will learn to cook during this 2.5 hours long class. Your guide for the evening will be Chef John Scoff whose southern roots color all of his cooking, prepared with fresh and local ingredients.
6. Presummer BBQ (Gluten Free)
This class offered by the Hudson Table, smells like summer is finally around the corner. You will learn to make “BBQ ribs, potato salad with a twist and a summer berry cobbler,” amongst other items. Moreover, as this is a gluten free class, you will be able to invite your friend who only eats gluten free next time you do a BBQ and surprise him/her by your culinary talents. This 3 hours long class is led by Chef Sara Kartzmer Fry who likes to cook good food as long as she can give it a healthy twist. It deserves to be in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC because of the gluten-free twist and the very appetizing picture on display when buying the class.
5. Southern Comfort: American Regional Favorites.
The Institute of Culinary Education ranks 5th in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC. It is kinda the school for recreational cooking. Their website has so many classes, you could spend hours just scrolling through all of it. This class will make you dive into the American food culture, something that we didn’t we have until recently. During this 4.5 hours long class, you’ll learn to make plenty of Southern comfort food and particularly Slow-Roasted Barbecue Ribs. On top of which, you’ll basically cook a whole Southern menu. The class is led by Chef Robert Ramsey.
4. Apartment Grilling
For those of you who don’t have a big backyard nor a balcony to show off your BBQ, the cooking gods heard you. And this is why we put this class on our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC.
Offered by the Hudson Table (another cooking studio who has many good classes), this 3 hours long class is led by Chef Alex Ching who will show you how to BBQ chicken and ribs from the comfort of your home. You will also learn to cook sides as coleslaw and corn bread.
3. Big Easy Surf and Turf
Presented by the Institute of Culinary Education, this cooking class that ranks third in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC will make you travel to New Orleans without leaving the kitchen. This 4.5 hours long class is led by Chef Sandy Murzin. If you missed the first one, another class will be held later during the year, led by Chef Lourdes Reynoso.
During the course of the lesson, you’ll learn to make plenty of savory dishes. The reason we put this class here is because of the “Mr B’s BBQ Shrimps” featured on the list of articles you will cook.
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2. Seafood Grilling Secrets
Because we put a BBQ Korean class on this list, we thought we would also include another type of food that can easily be grilled and remain delicious: seafood.
Offered by the Sur La Table cooking studio, this 2 hours long class will teach you how to perfectly grill salmon, shrimps and scallops with a side of grilled New Potatoes. This class will be led by Chef Christianna Gozzi.
1. Grilling and BBQ Boot Camp
This class ranks first in our list of best BBQ cooking classes in NYC. It is in a league of its own. We have to warn you, it is also the most expensive class on this list. But not including in this list, would be a sin.
Offered by the Culinary Institute of America, this boot camp is spread over three days and will be held in Hyde Park. You will learn plenty of grilling techniques from all around America and also learn about the best spices and sauces to rub on which meat. Not only will you learn how to perfectly grill meat but also poultry, vegetables and seafood.
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With so many choices, we do hope you’ll enjoy your best BBQ cooking classes in NYC. Yours truly expects to be invited to taste the result of your learning experience.
